Timbers Tid Bits: Rio Ferdinand Edition
by Geoff Gibson on Oct 6, 2011 10:33 AM PDT
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PrintSo you guys must have heard the news by now. Well not news, but rather the rumors. Rio Ferdinand is going to Chicago! Not really, but it sure does make a sparkly headline doesn't it? Apparently the British media have been having a field day with regards to the transfer rumor. Regardless of whether it true or not (it's not) I just don't see where it makes sense.
Rio Ferdinand is a great player, but he's a defensive center back. No offense to Chicago or anybody involved, but why waste your money on a player that won't ever generate many headlines. As bad as it might seem, defensive players just don't get the kind of press and marketing that midfielders or strikers get and, in the U.S.'s sports landscape that's what you need.
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That is a very odd rationale
why waste your money on a player that won’t ever generate many headlines.
Because he’s a really good player? “Headlines generated” is a very MLS 1.0, Beckham-to-LA way of looking at DP’s. if the best DP available is a center back, and the Timbers are in the market for a DP, I want the Timbers to sign a center back, and I don’t care about headlines – the headlines will come when the team is dramatically better as a result of signing that world-class center back.
MLS is past the point of needing to sign that one big splashy European signing to validate itself. Enough people take MLS seriously at this point that it’s unnecessary to spend a DP slot on someone just because he will sell shirts or generate news stories in the local market.
If you're going to spend that much n a player...
He needs to make headlines. Ferdinand would command Henry and Beckham like money and if Chicago is going to spend that kind of money then that’s the kind of player they need.
A few MLS teams are beyond the need (Portland, TFC, Seattle, etc.) but a few still aren’t. new England, Chicago, Dallas, etc. could all benefit from a player that makes a big marketing splash.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
I guess I don't get what you mean by "make headlines"
Most “headlines” made by DP’s are of the “Thierry Henry and the Red Bulls are in town today” or “David Beckham and the Galaxy beat the Sounders last night” variety, which is exactly what would happen with a Rio Ferdinand signing – for “Thierry Henry” or “David Beckham” you can sub any high-profile European player, pretty much, and that’s what’ll happen.
The “average” non-soccer savvy sports fan in the US doesn’t really know Thierry Henry is a striker and probably doesn’t care that Rio Ferdinand is not – all they know is “hey I know that name didn’t he play for Manchester United”, even if he didn’t.
If Rio Ferdinand were willing to come to MLS right now I would love for Portland to try to sign him, center back or not.
by pdb on Oct 6, 2011 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm speaking strictly for Chicago
If they’re going to spend upwards of $4 million/year on a player it needs to be a player who will attract the Euro-soccer savvy crowd into going to a Chicago Fire game as well as getting local news to pay more attention to the club.
That’s just something I don’t see a center back being able to do, at least not as well as if it were a premier midfielder or striker like Didier Drogba or Frank Lampard.
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
Rio Ferdinand has been an outstanding player for one of the three best teams in Europe since 2002 and is a regular England international
I’m not sure how much more the “Euro-soccer savvy crowd” or media would need. It’s a moot point as he’s not coming, but I don’t think he’s nearly as under the radar as you seem to think he is.
by pdb on Oct 6, 2011 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions
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